Cadillac names Jim Bunnell as new US sales chief

Jim Bunnell has been named as the sales head for the United States at Cadillac, which is aiming to increase its sales through a new approach under new global chief Johan de Nysschen. Effective October 1, 2014, Bunnell will replace interim Cadillac sales head Kurt McNeil, who subbed in for resigned chief Bill Peffer.

McNeil is currently General Motors’ vice president of sales operations for the US. Bunnell is currently serving as vice president of sales for Chevrolet and Cadillac in Europe. He joined GM in in 1979 and had held sales and product planning roles at Pontiac and GMC. His appointment means he will be fourth sales head at Cadillac in a little more than two years.

He will report to de Nysschen. In his new role, Bunnell will be in charge implementing strategies for retail sales and customer experience initiatives, GM said in a statement. De Nysschen said in the statement that Bunnel’s addition to Cadillac’s leadership team is one of the key steps the brand are taking to strengthen the focus and alignment of its organization.

He cited Bunnell’s strong experience in leading auto sales and service organizations. De Nysschen recently remarked that Cadillac should build off a solid base of customers who are willing to shell out more money for its vehicles, even if it means sacrificing some sales volume.

US sales accounted for around 73 percent of Cadillac’s global volume in 2013. It dropped 5 percent in the first eight months of 2014, while all luxury brands posted a combined 8 percent surge. Howard Drake, chairman of Cadillac's National Dealer Council, remarked that Bunnell is a "dealer guy" who will serve as a recognizable face to the dealer network. [source: GM]